Why a holiday is good for your health

Not all of us are taking our annual leave apparently. Two out of five managers in fact. But having a holiday is actually really important to your health, if you needed another reason to have one.

Physical benefits

Paul Joseph,  co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel, says: “Escaping the stresses and strains of modern lifestyles can help to lower blood pressure and reduce the production of fat-storage hormone cortisol, decreasing the risk of diabetes, strokes and heart disease.”

Variety in diet

(@bastique/Flickr)

On holiday we ditch our normal eating pattens and try new things. It’s not good to eat the similar meals day in day out, and a trip abroad might give you some inspiration to make something new back at home.

Improved general wellbeing

Joseph says: “Increasingly fewer people want to spend their entire holiday lazing by a pool, competing for sunbeds with first-light towel runs. For me, sunrise yoga classes, rejuvenating spa treatments and wellbeing activities are much more appealing (and my body loves me better for it).”

Better stress-resilience

Lifestyle blogger Simon Alexander Wong says: “By taking full advantage of your holidays, you’ll come back feeling refreshed, full of energy and better equipped to handle whatever comes your way.”

Increased creativity

“Taking a break from work not only boosts your creativity, but also allows you to reconnect with yourself, create new memories by experiencing something for the first time and get a fresh perspective on life,” Wong says.

Increased vitamin D levels

(Lionel Cironneau/AP)

Ever noticed how your nails grow really fast on holiday? Or how your mood is uplifted (not just because you’re not working)? It could be down to the sun’s ability to help us get vitamin D, something a huge amount of us are lacking.

Dr Dush Gunasekera, A GP for Zesty, says: “If you’re fortunate enough to get some sunshine, with sunscreen on of course, the benefits of Vitamin D provide us with more energy and make us feel healthier.  Stress levels drop, which will have a positive effect in several ways, not least of which is switching off a hormone that keeps the body working 24/7.”

Improved sleep

We sleep better when we know we don’t have an important meeting in the morning, and a deeper sleep helps restore energy and help the immune system.

More exercise

Providing you don’t literally lie horizontal on a sun longer for the entire week, chances are you’re moving about far more than during a typical day at the office. Simply walking, a spot of swimming, shopping or sightseeing is far better for you than sitting at a desk all day, five days a week.

A chance to get a little perspective

Getting away from the daily grind gives you a good chance to reflect and take stock. Everyone has a bit of post-holiday blues but if you’re really dreading coming home it might be a sign that you need to change up something in your day-to-day life. Many people find they make the big life decisions on holiday.

Exposure to sea water

Apparently the calming motion of water and sound of lapping waves has a positive effect on our brains, in a similar way to meditation. Salty sea water is also really good for your skin, particularly if you suffer from acne.

More, ahem, action

Lasse Skole Hansen, from travel search site Momondo, said: “In a recent survey Brits stated they have an increased desire for sex on holiday – 19 % of men and 14 % of women, which can have benefits for health and wellbeing.”